Hamas strike on Israel - Threadbans in op - mod warning in OP updated 19/10/23

That should be the red line for Irish people. We’ve just suffered a century of theocracy and bigotry on this island and it has been an appalling experience. In no way, shape or form should we be supporting a far worse religious outfit elsewhere.

So now Israel has named journalists as legitimate targets but seeing as they've killed 39 already thats hardly a surprise. This is based on the assertion that an AP phot journalist was "imbedded" on October 7th. The AP claim the journo was contacted on the morning of the attack and was not aware of what was about to happen. Whether he did or he didin't is pointless as I don't know what he was supposed to do, I see some Israeli's claiming he should have intervened, maybe could have attacked Hamas with his camera maybe.

The point is Israel have now used it as a chance to legitimise the targeting of all media in Gaza, except the ones imbedded with them and who have to agree to full censorship of their reporting. They don't want anyone to report on the true scale of the atrocities and are making a public threat to target anyone with a camera. If you cannot see what is happening then it's only because you don't want to.

In other lighthearted news, I see Braverman has compared Hamas to those bigoted, hate filled orange marches. Hamas should sue for defamation.

I don't think so. There will just be more players undertaking the violent adventures. I mean, lets take a look at Russia and Putin for a minute.

I know you and likes of @brickster69 don't like that, and have been much more in your element + happy plastering this thread with condemnations of the US and Israel...

Russia is hardly "hegemonic" but I think it could be argued that the relative weakening of the US and rise of other powers emboldened Putin to do what he is doing in Ukraine.

Expect more of this unheaval and chaos as other powers rise further, the US retreats somewhat and the world perhaps returns closer to a kind of "state of nature", like what it was pre WW1/WW2 (?), but this time with more powerful weapons available to many countries.

Might makes right + there will be multiple countries feeling strong enough to go to town on their weaker neighbours for some reason or other, and no overwhelmingly powerful nation or small group of nations stepping up to call a halt. The "security dilemma" as I think it is called will ensure a very dangerous arms race (already under way).

The multipolar world is going to be beautiful.

Also saying the governments (+ foreign policies) represent "40 % of the world's population" is a joke when referring to likes of China/NK/Iran/Russia etc. given how those countries are run. A much worse joke than doing same for the US!

I would advise people to look at the footage of the missile strike on the courtyard of the al-Shifa hospital. The strike was carried out by a Hellfire R9X missile, called the "ninja missile". No huge crater, no huge exposion, just kinetic energy and loads of human carnage. Now I wonder where we have seen a similar strike in a hospital courtyard??

Nowhere.

The US have a problem here in Europe as regards their unlimited support for Israel and their expansionist campaigns and wars. This support damages US credibility in Europe. Israeli actions are deeply unpopular in Europe.

On the other hand, Europe views Russia as a threat and welcomes the assistance the US gives to Ukraine in fighting their war.

They've been itching to do this for decades. Unusual behavior for the most "oppressed race" in history.

The conflict in Israel-Palestine invites us all to have opinions. Too many, perhaps. I have strong, almost contradictory, ones - hostility to the conduct of both Israel and Hamas - but what are they based on, really? I’ve never been there and I don’t speak the languages.

So what, does that mean TFG can't be mentioned? Says who?

There's no shortage of commentary in Biden, I've added to it myself, but Trump is still GOP forerunner for next year.

No.But I haven't heard of serious speculation within Israel.

I would attach more significance to that as Israelis have more at stake than us ,including responsibility

The US has not abandoned diplomacy. Not sure why you just go and state that as if it is some axiom?

You'd want to wake up as well as invasion of Iraq was pushing 20 years ago now and I think the political environment in the US and desire for interventions of any sort has changed beyond all recognition. Much debate there now about them even supplying weaponry to Ukraine, which is amazing. One of their parties main Presidential candidates is quite likely to end participation in NATO if elected.

Lookit, what else can you call what Putin/Russia is doing but a "violent adventure", it is funny how using the term irks you and gets under the skin when it is not referring to the US or some Western country. That war is not even about Russia's self interest in my opinion. If you think likes of China (I won't mention Russia or NK or Iran...) are fully rational, or in some way they will be an improvement over the US & Co. (and their "hypocricies") and foster greater order and peace in the world you are asleep and dreaming again.

We'll see how much safer the multipolar world is when the US has retreated further, mainly sticks to trade and relations with its neighbourhood and group of allies + almost every mid sized country on Earth have built their own nuclear bombs (for "self defence") and ICBMs to put them on because they don't trust others and are afraid of being attacked.

I predict not very!

Really, yet you no doubt believe all the "casualty reports" from Hamas controlled media...hmmm

Remind me ...did you call out all the now disproven propaganda about the hospital carpark 500 killed rocket?

And the UN and the WHO.

Incidentally, the regime actually admits that thousands of Gazan civilians have been killed. I'm quite puzzled by regime supporters denying this, when the IDF repeatedly say that it is an unfortunate necessity in their eyes that thousands of civilians have to die whilst they go after Hamas.

It's like there's a cognitive dissonance. People support the launching of the rockets into Gaza by Israel but choose to not believe Hamas when they say they landed.